I don’t usually write about personal stuff, but this time I couldn’t help myself.
My wife Julie and I live in a small town in the middle of nowhere. It has a name, but most people call it BFE, which fits. I’m a welder and make okay money, but nothing like the paycheck my brother-in-law brings home. He’s the CFO of some big company and can afford to take Julie’s sister on four vacations a year to places I’d never even think of going. Read more at Savransky Private Jeweler }
The exquisite emerald is the official birthstone of May. According to Indian folklore, the word ‘emerald’ derives from the Sanskrit Marakata, defined as “the green of growing things.” Eventually, the Old French or Vulgar Latin interpretations, Esmeraulde, Esmaralda or Esmaraldus evolved into the word we use today: emerald.
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The name of this colorful October birthstone is thought to have derived in India, which is also from whence the first opals came to the Western world. In Sanskrit it was known as upala, meaning “precious stone.” In early Rome, it was called opalus. The most valuable opals are those displaying a kaleidoscopic rainbow of colors—which is known as “play-of-color.” Read more
Spinel is a reasonably hard mineral composed of magnesium aluminum oxide. The Spinel is usually found in green, blue, brown, violet, orange, and black, but Red Spinel is the most desirable of them all. It's is a durable gem, with a hardness of 8.0 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. The famous rock has glittering optics and is more reflective than ruby. The Red Spinel true brilliance comes out when cut and polished, rivaling the beauty of other gemstones in the same color range. Read more
An alternative to the pearl and moonstone, alexandrite is another option for the June birthstone. Interestingly, alexandrite is also known as the Friday Gemstone or the stone of “Friday’s Child” in reference to the old nursery rhyme (Friday's child, loving and giving…). The reason behind this is unclear. Alexandrite has a rating of 8.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale, meaning that it is one of the hardest gemstones around.
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This captivating June birthstone comes from the world’s oceans, seas and waterways around the world. It is an essential and timeless wardrobe accessory treasured by women regardless of age. The origin of pearls enthralled our ancestors, which led to many legends and myths. Middle Eastern folks thought that pearls were droplets from heaven. The Asians decided that the pearl originated in a dragon’s brain while Christopher Columbus and his crew thought that shellfish somehow manufactured the June birthstone from the morning dew. Read More
I’m certainly not the first woman who has ever wondered: What in the world do you buy for a man who has everything?
During the course of our 25-year marriage, my husband has accumulated any and everything he could possibly want. Fortunately, he has a lucrative job that allows him to purchase whatever he wants, whenever he wants it. It’s great for him but causes a conundrum for me when I want to get him something special READ MORE
